Plants with Benefits

by Seasonal Wisdom on February 11, 2014

Post image for Plants with Benefits

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Seasonal Wisdom is raising a glass to herbs, fruits, flowers and veggies that are ideal for love and romance.

To get the scoop on this titillating topic, we climbed under the sheets with a copy of Plants with Benefits. This new book provides a tasteful guide to aphrodisiac plants, including the appropriately named passionflower (Passiflora incarnate) shown above.  You’ll also find recipes and growing tips for these plants, along with folklore and history. Enter to win an autographed copy! All photos copyright Plants with Benefits.  Congratulations to Shana of South Carolina for winning this giveaway.

When Helen Yoest sat down to write Plants with Benefits, she began “a quest to understand how plants can play with our erotic feelings, as well as stimulate our sense of wellbeing and receptivity to intimacy.”

Her plant research revealed that aphrodisiac plants are indeed “nature’s little helpers” who can act as catalysts for fertility, and even improve sexual performance due to the plants’ physiological and psychological effects.

Plants with Benefits have aphrodisiac shapes like carrots. The 45 common (and not-so-common) plants in Plants With Benefits  have certain qualities.

Sometimes, they are psychologically suggestive due to their smell or shape.  It’s easy to see why carrots might be in this group, for instance.

The spices in this cocoa drink are Plants with BenefitsOther plants directly affect the brain chemistry by increasing the blood flow to sex organs or contributing other pleasurable sensations.

Cayenne pepper, cinnamon and cacao in the book’s Hot Cocoa, Vianne Style recipe offer delicious flavors and help heat up the night in more ways than one.

This spiced wine has coriander which is among the Plants with Benefits.Other aphrodisiacs in Plants with Benefits have hormones that actually mimic our own human hormones, and can affect our libidos.

The coriander in the book’s Hippocras Spiced Wine recipe has phytochemicals that support hormonal balance, writes Helen.

Plants with Benefits include garlic, which increases blood flow to body organs.Some plants are quite healthy for us, and good nutrition stimulates a little passion too.  But the plants in this book had to be more than just healthy. They needed to have a rich aphrodisiac history as well.

Garlic may be famous for its antibiotic properties and health benefits. But the reason the plant is included in this book is that garlic also improves blood circulation and gets the blood flowing to important body parts. That’s why Tibetan Buddhist monks abstain from garlic … to avoid stirring the passions.

In Plants With Benefits, you’ll find lots of ways to stimulate your passions, learn about plants and incorporate these foods into your diets.

The cover of Plants with BenefitsWin Plants with Benefits!

Here’s how you can win an autographed copy of this book. Please click the below Rafflecopter device to enter this giveaway. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends at midnight on Feb. 14, 2014. Please check your email’s spam folder so we can contact you quickly if you win.  Congratulations to Shana of South Carolina for winning this giveaway.

Thanks for participating. Good luck everyone!

Connect with Helen Yoest, author of Plants With Benefits. Buy this book.

Disclosure: This prize was provided at no charge, and Helen Yoest is a garden writer friend. However, I was not reimbursed for writing or planning this giveaway. My opinions are my own, and I’m looking forward to sharing this book with the lucky winner.

Feeling Romantic? Don’t miss this Seasonal Wisdom article on old folklore about Valentine’s Day, illustrated with vintage valentines.

{ 29 comments }

Mel February 11, 2014 at 7:04 am

Great book title, and gorgeous photos! Would love a copy.

j-bron February 11, 2014 at 7:08 am

I have been looking forward to this book for a while now and would love to win a copy. What an awesome topic!

Julie February 11, 2014 at 7:40 am

I’ve always known that plants have had benefits…just not these benefits. 😉

Sandy Scofield February 11, 2014 at 7:42 am

Education.

Jo Ellen R February 11, 2014 at 8:02 am

Would enhance my plant knowledge in interesting and perhaps useful ways!

Claudia February 11, 2014 at 4:24 pm

Getting into the garden with plants has a great benefit – and Helen has highlighted some we didn’t think aabout.

Seasonal Wisdom February 11, 2014 at 4:31 pm

Thanks everyone for participating in this fun giveaway. We appreciate your interest, and we wish everyone lots of good luck! Cheers.

Elizabeth Bee February 11, 2014 at 6:46 pm

Love the clever title. Thanks for the GiveAway.

Marcia Miller February 11, 2014 at 7:19 pm

This looks like a fun book! I’m looking forward to reading all the interesting details.

Lisa Steinkopf February 11, 2014 at 7:20 pm

This is interesting…..would love to read it.

jenna February 11, 2014 at 8:00 pm

Fascinating subject!

Rebekah Laflin February 11, 2014 at 8:28 pm

Hi, I would like to win Plants with Benefits, because my husband (Aka Panda, for good reason) Would encourage me in my plant hobby 😀

Twyla February 11, 2014 at 10:40 pm

Looks like an exciting book! Would love a copy.

Emma Wynn February 12, 2014 at 5:17 am

I would like to win a copy of this book as you can never have enough plant books. This one looks beautiful and has a different take on the benefits of plants:)

Margie Zer-Aviv February 12, 2014 at 6:27 am

Would love to have this book in my collection!!!

Lisa C February 12, 2014 at 7:42 am

What a great book to add to my others on healing foods, etc.!

kathy vilim February 12, 2014 at 7:59 am

Intriguing topic! The power of plants is fascinating~ Good luck with the book, Helen. I hope I win an autographed copy~

Meghan February 12, 2014 at 9:07 am

Helen Yoest is great! I would love to win this book.

Patti February 12, 2014 at 9:18 am

This looks really cool! :)

Agnieszka February 12, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Well plants are my love and especially these with benefits!!! 😀 I’d love to have a book about them with wonderful photos :)

Stephanie February 12, 2014 at 12:45 pm

It’d be nice to win, but I’m ready to buy this book anyway and will definitely share with friends.

Susie W. Clay February 12, 2014 at 1:24 pm

I would so enjoy this book <3 Thanks for the chance <3

LaNita February 12, 2014 at 2:16 pm

I love learning more about plants and their nutritional values as well as their effects on the human body. I’m also trying to learn more about holistic ways to nurture the the immune system and heal the body, increase metabolism, etc

Barbara Carr February 12, 2014 at 4:08 pm

Beautiful photos, Looks like a truly intriguing read. Would love to win this book!

Susie W. Clay February 13, 2014 at 1:17 pm

I would love to win this book!!! <3 <3 <3

Birdiebee February 13, 2014 at 2:22 pm

I love plants and reading about what they can do for us. I always like learning something new everyday.

Shana February 14, 2014 at 7:00 am

Would love to win this – we were just tweeting about this yesterday on #herbchat! Looking forward to reading it!

Kiandra February 14, 2014 at 7:12 pm

I’d love to learn more about these plants! As an avid gardener, I am always looking for different ways to utilize what I grow. And wow, I love the book title!

Seasonal Wisdom February 17, 2014 at 10:36 am

Thanks to everyone who participated. Congratulations to Shana for winning this random drawing. Look for more fun giveaways and garden stories coming soon.

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